Endoscopy based medical devices, methods, and innovations

Abstract

Disclosed are a system, a device, and a method of a lubricant applicator device to be used with an insertion tube of an endoscope. In one embodiment, a video system center having a processor and a memory; a monitor coupled with the video system center; a light source coupled with the video system center; an endoscope coupled the video system center having a control section; an insertion tube having a camera at a distal end of the insertion tube that permits viewing of an area of an internal structure that is directly in front of the camera; and a mirror to be mechanically extendable at a distance from the camera and reflected backward, so that the camera permits viewing of an area behind the camera through a reflection of an image produced by the mirror when an operator of the endoscope utilizes the control section of the endoscope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A video cart system, comprising:
 a video system center having a processor and a memory;   a monitor coupled with the video system center;   a light source coupled with the video system center;   an endoscope coupled the video system center having a control section;   an insertion tube having a camera at a distal end of the insertion tube that permits viewing of an area of an internal structure that is directly in front of the camera; and   a mirror to be mechanically extendable at a distance from the camera and reflected backward, so that the camera permits viewing of an area behind the camera through a reflection of an image produced by the mirror when an operator of the endoscope utilizes the control section of the endoscope.   
     
     
         2 . A lubricant applicator device, comprising:
 a tubular member to surround a portion of an endoscope insertion tube having a mirror that can be mechanically extended a distance from the camera and reflected backward, so that the camera can view an area behind the camera through a reflection of an image produced by the mirror when an operator of the endoscope utilizes a control section of an endoscope such that the tubular member is extendable over the portion of the endoscope insertion tube to snugly surround the portion of the endoscope insertion tube;   an enlarged bulbous region adjacent to a distal end of the tubular member to be pre-filled with a gel material that is releasable onto a surface area of the endoscope insertion tube encompassed by the enlarged bulbous region; and   a handle region adjacent to a proximal end of the tubular member that extends from the enlarged bulbous region to provide a non-slip exterior surface to enable a human hand of an operator to grasp the handle region and manipulate the endoscope insertion tube while rotatably affixing a thumb of the hand onto the enlarged bulbous region to release the gel material when a pressure is applied to the enlarged bulbous region using the thumb.   
     
     
         3 . The lubricant applicator device of  claim 2  wherein the lubricant applicator device is any one of a single use lubricant applicator device and a multiple use lubricant applicator device. 
     
     
         4 . The lubricant applicator device of  claim 2  wherein a flow rate of the gel material onto the surface area of the endoscope insertion tube encompassed by the enlarged bulbous region is proportional to the pressure applied to the enlarged bulbous region by the thumb of the human hand of the operator,
 wherein the gel material is refillable in the enlarged bulbous region when the lubricant applicator device is the multiple use lubricant applicator device, and 
 wherein the gel material is pre-filled in the enlarged bulbous region at a factory when the lubricant applicator device is the single use lubricant applicator device. 
 
     
     
         5 . The lubricant applicator device of  claim 2  wherein the tubular member is a single mold assembly comprising of both the enlarged bulbous region and the handle region and is formed of a material comprising at least one of a rubber, a polymeric flexible material, a nylon material, a biodegradable material, a silicon based material, and a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         6 . The lubricant applicator device of  claim 2  wherein the endoscope insertion tube is inserted into the lubricant applicator device axially, through the proximal end of the tubular member and continuing through the tubular member to emerge from the distal end of the tubular member adjacent to the enlarged bulbous region. 
     
     
         7 . The lubricant applicator device of  claim 2  wherein a section of the endoscope insertion tube encapsulated by the handle region to remain segregated from the gel material of the enlarged bulbous region such that an exterior surface of the handle region to be unaffected by an extraction of the gel material from the enlarged bulbous region when the pressure of the thumb of the operator is applied on the enlarged bulbous region causing the gel material to release onto the surface area of the endoscope insertion tube encompassed by the enlarged bulbous region of the lubricant applicator device,
 wherein the enlarged bulbous region is a chamber that comprises the gel material. 
 
     
     
         8 . The lubricant applicator device of  claim 2  wherein the endoscope insertion tube is transgressible through the lubricant applicator device when it is pushed through the tubular member from the proximal end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         9 . The lubricant applicator device of  claim 2  wherein the gel material is a water-soluble gel that is gentle on mucosal surfaces of a patient. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a lubricant applicator device, comprising:
 generating a single mold having a tubular member with an enlarged bulbous region at a distal end of the lubricant applicator device and a handle region at a proximal end of the lubricant applicator device,
 wherein the tubular member to surround a portion of an endoscope insertion tube such that the tubular member is placeable over the portion of the endoscope insertion tube to surround the portion of the endoscope insertion tube, and 
 wherein the handle region to provide a non-slip exterior surface to enable a human hand of an operator to grasp the handle region and manipulate the endoscope insertion tube while rotatably affixing a thumb of the hand onto the enlarged bulbous region to release the gel material when a pressure is applied to the enlarged bulbous region using the thumb, 
 wherein the endoscope insertion tube includes a mirror that can be mechanically extended a distance from the camera and reflected backward, so that the camera can view an area behind the camera through a reflection of an image produced by the mirror when an operator of the endoscope utilizes the control section of the endoscope. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the lubricant applicator device has a sideways water-tower like shape. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the lubricant applicator device is formed of a material comprising at least one of a rubber, a polymeric flexible material, a nylon material, a biodegradable material, a silicon based material, and a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the lubricant applicator device is any one of a single use lubricant applicator device and a multiple use lubricant applicator device,
 wherein the gel material is refillable in the enlarged bulbous region when the lubricant applicator device is the multiple use lubricant applicator device, and 
 wherein the gel material is pre-filled in the enlarged bulbous region at a factory when the lubricant applicator device is the single use lubricant applicator device.